Amazon's robotaxi unit Zoox to begin testing in Austin, Miami

FILE PHOTO: Zoox, a self-driving vehicle owned by Amazon, is seen at the company's factory in Fremont, California, U.S. July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

(Reuters) -Amazon.com's robotaxi unit Zoox said on Wednesday it plans to start testing its autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas, and Miami, a move that would mark its first trial sites outside the western United States.

Zoox will deploy its test fleet of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders with human safety drivers in small areas near the business and entertainment districts of the two cities, it said in a statement.